Captive Nations Week, 2003

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 7691 of July 18, 2003

Captive Nations Week, 2003

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

During Captive Nations Week, first declared in 1959 as
a statement against the continuing Communist domination
of Eastern Europe, America expresses its dedication to
freedom and democracy. While many countries around the
world uphold these principles, millions of people still
live under regimes that violate their citizens' rights
daily. In countries such as Burma and Iran, citizens
lack the right to choose their government, speak out
against oppression, and practice their religion freely.
The despot who rules Cuba imprisons political opponents
and crushes peaceful opposition, while in North Korea
hundreds of thousands languish in prison camps and
citizens suffer from malnutrition as the regime pursues
weapons of mass destruction. Violence, corruption, and
mismanagement reign in Zimbabwe and an authoritarian
government in Belarus smothers political dissent.

Yet the cause of freedom is advancing. With the demise
of the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi
people are no longer captives in their own country.
Their freedom is evidence of the fall of one of the
most oppressive dictators in history. Today, American
and coalition forces are helping to restore civil order
and provide critical humanitarian aid to the Iraqi
people. Iraqis are now meeting openly and freely to
discuss the future of their country. The United States
vows to continue to work with those trying to bring
about peaceful democratic change and greater respect
for human rights.

The Congress, by Joint Resolution approved July 17,
1959, (73 Stat. 212), has authorized and requested the
President to issue a proclamation designating the third
week in July of each year as ``Captive Nations Week.''

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the
United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 20
through July 26, 2003, as Captive Nations Week. I call
upon the people of the United States to observe this
week with appropriate ceremonies and activities and to
reaffirm their commitment to all those seeking liberty,
justice, and self-determination.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two
thousand three, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and twenty-eighth.

(Presidential Sig.)B